Pump Station Road Dispersed Camping
Ironwood Forest National Monument
Write a Review N. Pump Station Rd. Marana, AZ 85653 520-258-7200 Official WebsiteGPS: 32.4448, -111.3717
Location submitted by: Chris
Overview of Pump Station Road Dispersed Camping
Caution: There is a 6000lb GVWR bridge on Silverbell Rd. To bypass this bridge, access Pump Station Rd. via W. El Tiro Rd.
Accessibility is not guaranteed, always scout ahead before driving down dirt roads. Learn more: Boondocking 101.
Last Price Paid: $0
Reported by Mike & Nancy on 3/22/2024
Longest RV Reported: 44 feet (Toy Hauler Fifth Wheel)
Reported by SaltyVetAdventures on 2/15/2023
Pad Type dirt
Elevation 1,968 ft / 599 m
Max Stay 14
Tent Camping Yes
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Featured Video by The Wandering Shores
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To ask questions of the owner or manager please contact the campground directly. 520-258-7200
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Reviews of Pump Station Road Dispersed Camping 56 people have reviewed this location.
“Our favorite Boondocking site In Four years!”
Reviewed 3/22/2024
Nightly rate: | FREE! |
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Days stayed: | 14 |
Site Number: | 0 |
RV Length: | 43' (Toy Hauler Fifth Wheel) |
In 4 years of semi full time Boondocking, this has been our favorite spot. Wide open, huge spots. OHV trails and walking trails to explore. Close to Tucson and all the amenities. We planned to stay a couple nights, ended up staying two weeks! While here, we visited the nearby Gliderport, airplane graveyards, smelter and hotel ghost... more
In 4 years of semi full time Boondocking, this has been our favorite spot. Wide open, huge spots. OHV trails and walking trails to explore. Close to Tucson and all the amenities. We planned to stay a couple nights, ended up staying two weeks! While here, we visited the nearby Gliderport, airplane graveyards, smelter and hotel ghost town, Pima Air & Space Museum, made new friends and saw a Space X launch. The weather in March was perfect, wildflowers starting to bloom. Road in was great. Area was clean. Great cell service. No downsides. Perfect stay.
Mike & Nancy would stay here again
This review is the opinion of a Campendium member and not of Campendium.com
“Perfect”
Reviewed 3/9/2024
Nightly rate: | FREE! |
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Days stayed: | 8 |
Site Number: | 0 |
RV Length: | 43' (Toy Hauler Fifth Wheel) |
This is one of those sites that tempt you to give a bad review so that no one else wants to check it out. This area is PERFECT Boondocking. We turned east off of Pump Station Road, and we were almost all by ourselves. The cactus were starting to bloom, and everything was green. Close to Tucson, easy for big rigs, no issues. Spring... more
This is one of those sites that tempt you to give a bad review so that no one else wants to check it out. This area is PERFECT Boondocking. We turned east off of Pump Station Road, and we were almost all by ourselves. The cactus were starting to bloom, and everything was green. Close to Tucson, easy for big rigs, no issues. Spring in the desert, perfect.
Mike & Nancy would stay here again
This review is the opinion of a Campendium member and not of Campendium.com
“Second stay, still good but crowded”
Reviewed 1/29/2024
Nightly rate: | FREE! |
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Days stayed: | 14 |
RV Length: | 30' (Travel Trailer) |
This was our second stay here after visiting once in 2023. We ended up in exactly the same spot. Verizon speeds are good at 50Mbps download and 25 upload but suffered from congestion during peak times. AT&T was 41/3. Verizon speeds taken with a roof mounted Pepwave antenna. AT&T via phone. It's the desert so no tree cover to impede ... more
This was our second stay here after visiting once in 2023. We ended up in exactly the same spot.
Verizon speeds are good at 50Mbps download and 25 upload but suffered from congestion during peak times. AT&T was 41/3. Verizon speeds taken with a roof mounted Pepwave antenna. AT&T via phone. It's the desert so no tree cover to impede solar or Starlink.
Most of the El Tiro access road is dirt and heavily washboarded but no significant ruts or obstacles. The actual Pump Station Rd is in similar shape, though there are deeper ruts the farther in you go. It has rained a few days before our arrival and there was still mud. Judging by the depth of the mud ruts, you wouldn't want to be coming or going during a heavy rain. It was 2WD accessible when dry and any size rig can fit. There was a triple axle toy hauler deep down the road. The west road ends for motorized vehicles at 32.4388009, -111.3861497 with some barrier signs. That wasn't here in 2023.
We arrived on a Sunday morning and there were plenty of people here. Mostly vans and car campers. While there were plenty of people, there are dozens of spots so you should be in good shape. Lot spacing was generally good with reasonable pricacy. Don't blaze your own road or make your own spots - seems to be an issue as people bulldozed over bushes. There weren't any obvious squatter types.
Noise levels were okay with some airplane noise from the nearby airport. The airport noise dies off late afternoon. No road noise of any significance.
Despite its popularity, it was very clean. The site we picked had zero trash and a long walk down the road through other unoccupied sites only saw bits and pieces around.
There's a dumpster at the Speedway across the road. Water is available at the Eloy TA. Propane at the Tractor Supply.
Tin Tumbleweed would stay here again
This review is the opinion of a Campendium member and not of Campendium.com
“Safe winter time camping”
Reviewed 1/4/2024
Nightly rate: | FREE! |
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Days stayed: | 7 |
I came here because the night time temperatures were getting too cold at higher elevations. The terrain is level, lots of places to camp without being on top of others. It’s sandy and the vegetation is mostly creosote bush with the occasional saguaro. There is no shade but that’s not a big issue this time of year - summer, not so g... more
I came here because the night time temperatures were getting too cold at higher elevations. The terrain is level, lots of places to camp without being on top of others. It’s sandy and the vegetation is mostly creosote bush with the occasional saguaro. There is no shade but that’s not a big issue this time of year - summer, not so good. There is little road noise. Many other reviews give 5 stares for quiet. Pretty much true if you don’t consider the nearly constant drone of small planes using the nearby glider port and the nearby Mariana airport. I haven’t had the opportunity to explore the Ironwood Forest Naional Monument, so I can’t comment on that. I had no trouble using N Silver Bell. It was closed east of Trico Rd, so maybe heir replacing the narrow bridge mentioned in other reviews. However, taking El Tico Rd west to Pump Station seems a more direct route than circling around from Silver Bell. Crappy Hanoubg,
This review is the opinion of a Campendium member and not of Campendium.com
“Great Nice Flat Spots !”
Reviewed 12/2/2023
Stayed here for 14 days a little far from the dump station but definitely a good spot. Nice and flat level spot.
camper-851094 would stay here again
This review is the opinion of a Campendium member and not of Campendium.com
“Great Spot”
Reviewed 10/28/2023
Nightly rate: | FREE! |
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Days stayed: | 1 |
Stopped here in a Saturday in October expecting a lot of others, but few campers and peaceful stay! Second time here and we will be back!
kmack would stay here again
This review is the opinion of a Campendium member and not of Campendium.com
“Beautiful And Quiet. ”
Reviewed 4/21/2023
Nightly rate: | FREE! |
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Days stayed: | 5 |
WARNING: my GPS, even though it’s an RV GPS with my size and weight, still tried to take me down Silverbell. I was fortunate that I had read the previous comment. There is no warning about the 6,000 pound weight limit on the one lane bridge until you are within a few feet of it. And there is no where or no way to turn around at that ... more
WARNING: my GPS, even though it’s an RV GPS with my size and weight, still tried to take me down Silverbell. I was fortunate that I had read the previous comment. There is no warning about the 6,000 pound weight limit on the one lane bridge until you are within a few feet of it. And there is no where or no way to turn around at that point. My rig is 42 feet long, plus I have a toad. So there’s no backing up. I would have been seriously screwed had I not been forewarned.
Other than that, it’s pretty much perfect.
I did see a snake slithering across the gravel road as I entered the area, so be on the lookout.
Plenty of wide open space out here. No issues finding a spot for the big rig.
The coordinates got me exactly to the first intersection with plenty of options in either direction.
32.44358, -111.37506
I did not continue any farther down Pump Station road so cannot provide any details beyond that point.
IndianaTami would stay here again
This review is the opinion of a Campendium member and not of Campendium.com
“Boondocking Dream”
Reviewed 4/11/2023
Nightly rate: | FREE! |
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Days stayed: | 2 |
Plenty of space, picturesque mountain range in the distance and saguaro cacti… also lots of flat areas. Woke up to beautiful silence in the middle of the desert. What a dream.
Meeesh would stay here again
This review is the opinion of a Campendium member and not of Campendium.com
“Great Spot for Rigs of Any Size (as long as you come in from El Tiro Road)”
Reviewed 4/3/2023
Nightly rate: | FREE! |
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Days stayed: | 7 |
Site Number: | N/A |
RV Length: | 28' (Toy Hauler Travel Trailer) |
We have previously stayed over on Pipeline just down the road but tried Pump Station this time. This place is great, it is easy to get into and has plenty of spots for rigs of any size. As most of the previous reviews indicate if you are anything other than a car/van you need to enter off of El Tiro or Avra and not W. Silverbell due ... more
We have previously stayed over on Pipeline just down the road but tried Pump Station this time. This place is great, it is easy to get into and has plenty of spots for rigs of any size. As most of the previous reviews indicate if you are anything other than a car/van you need to enter off of El Tiro or Avra and not W. Silverbell due to 6k limit bridge.
Cell service
T Mobile- Strong 20gb down, 6gb up
Verizon- Weak 2gb down, 4gm up
Starlink- Great no obstruction
We did a video review of this camping location and you can find it on the video tab here in campendium.
The Wandering Shores would stay here again
This review is the opinion of a Campendium member and not of Campendium.com
“Rattlesnakes! ”
Reviewed 4/2/2023
RV Length: | 19' (Class C) |
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Beware of rattlesnakes!
We stayed here the 14 day limit amazing place feels like you staying at campground but it’s free!
But the last day was out sitting in front of the van and I heard and saw a rattlesnake just under the RV! The are starting to wake and are active in warmer temperatures.
This review is the opinion of a Campendium member and not of Campendium.com
noted 1/12/2021
We took the alternative route to El tiro, but noted that the little bridge you cross (32.471364,-111.304206) also has a weight limit, so a completely different route may be necessary.
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Amenities
Hookups
- dry camping
- Dispersed Camping
Site Amenities
- big rig
Pets
- pets
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